Source: FranceAgriMer Stats 2010
As varied as its wines the climates in France range from mediterranean in the south to maritime in the west and distinctly continental in the east. Not surprisingly, the country has a a wide variety of soil types. The main grape varieties are red (see chart above) and the most planted white wine grape Ugni Blanc is used for making Cognac and Armagnac.
In France only about 0.4% of the vineyard area is planted to Riesling and almost all of it in Alsace.